Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel (elevation 1550m) is a town of about 10,000 people on the eastern fringe of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The town lies on the intersection of the Arkino Highway to Tibet (74 km) and the B.P. Highway to the Eastern Terai.



Understand
There are good views of the Himalayas from Dhulikhel, possibly as good as those from Nagarkot, with one important difference: Dhulikhel is a real Newari town and has a village square lined with temples, not just infrastructure to accommodate tourists looking for good views.

Get in

 * Buses from Kathmandu's Ratna Park bus station will take about two hours and cost less than Rs100. These buses pass through Bhaktapur on the way.
 * Taxis from Bhaktapur will likely cost more than Rs1000. Expect to pay at least twice that from Kathmandu.
 * Dhulikhel is on the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail This trail starts in Sundarijal, a short bus or taxi ride from Kathmandu, and continues on to Chisapani (2,150m), 5½ hr and then to Nagarkot (2,163m), 5-7½ hr.  Expect to hike between 4-7 hr between Nagarkot and Dhulikhel.

Get around
Dhulikhel is a small place, easily explored on foot.

Do

 * Hiking - about 6 hr will get you to Namobuddha and back to Dhulikhel. The route starts in the same direction as the walk to the Kali Temple.  The route is well signed.  Once you arrive in Namobuddha, you might want to visit the Tibetan monastery on the hill above the town.

Buy
There is a Nabil Bank ATM in the centre of town at the junction of BP Highway and the Araniko Highway.

There is no place to change currencies in town.

Eat
There are few independent places to eat in town. Most people will choose to eat at their hotel or lodge.

Go next
If you are hiking the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail, you can continue from Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha and from there on to Panauti. The hike to Namobuddha will take approximately 3 hr and an additional 2½-3 hr to reach Panauti. This village has several temples and is considered a particularly sacred spot being at the junction of two rivers as well as a third invisible river, the Padmabati.
 * Namo Buddha is a 3-hr hike from Dhulikhel. The town has a large stupa which is one of the three most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists in Nepal.  The Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery sits on the hilltop overlooking the town.
 * Panauti
 * Banepa
 * The Arniko Highway can be followed a further 75 km to the Tibet Border, passing the towns of Barabise, Tatopani, and Kodari